University of Alabama's president earns about $2 million less than Auburn University's president

University of Alabama president Judy Bonner earns $535,000 annually, which would 69th on the Chronicle of Higher Education's ­annual ranking of the salaries of the presidents of public colleges.

Staff file photo

By Ken RobertsCity Editor

Published: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 11:15 p.m.

The University of Alabama's president earns about $2 million less than Auburn University's president.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education's annual ranking released Sunday, Auburn's Jay Gogue is the second-highest paid public college president in 2011-12, earning $2.5 million.

University of Alabama System spokeswoman Kellee Reinhart said Monday that UA President Judy Bonner's salary is $535,000, which would rank 69th on the Chronicle of Higher Education's survey.

Gogue, who became Auburn's 18th president on July 16, 2007, trailed only Graham Spanier, the former Penn State president who was forced out over his handling of the sex abuse scandal involving ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Spanier's $2.9 million pay includes $1.2 million in severance and $1.2 million in deferred compensation.

Third on the list is Ohio State University's Gordon Gee, who served as Vanderbilt University's chancellor from 2000-07. Gee earned $1.9 million.

The median compensation for public college presidents was $441,392, according to the survey.

Four college presidents surpassed the $1 million threshold in 2011-12: Spanier, Gogue, Gee and the now-retired George Mason University President Alan Merten, who made $1.87 million.

The public college data is based on a survey of institutions. It analyzed compensation of 212 presidents at 191 public research institutions. The leaders outnumbered institutions because the survey included those whose tenures began or ended during the fiscal year.

Three people held the title of UA president during the time frame used to compile the survey.

On March 5, 2012, then-UA president Robert E. Witt was chosen as chancellor of the University of Alabama System, which includes campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.

The next day, Bonner, UA's executive vice president and provost, was named as interim president, replacing Witt.

Bonner was not a candidate for the position on a permanent basis, saying at the time she had “enough balls in the air and didn't need to be a candidate at the same time.”

On July 11, Texas Tech University President Guy Bailey was named UA's 37th president. Bailey's annual base salary was $535,000.

Bailey started work at UA on Sept. 4, but announced his resignation on Oct. 31, citing concerns about his wife's health.

The Montgomery native, a UA graduate, is now a tenured linguistics professor at UA and continues to earn the base annual salary he did as president, $535,000, while being classified as on “developmental leave.” Last week, Bailey lost out on the New Mexico State University president's job. He told regents there that his wife's health had improved enough for him to seek a job leading a university.

On Nov. 1, 2012, UA trustees turned to Bonner, making her the first woman to hold the post on a permanent basis at the Capstone.

“It's exciting to be named president of this great university, and I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” she said at the time.

Bonner has held a variety of titles during her more than 30 years at UA. She had been provost and executive vice president since 2006. She was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2003. She has also served as dean of the College of Human Environmental Studies, special assistant to the president, assistant academic vice president and head of the department of human nutrition and hospitality management.

She has also held faculty positions at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Ohio State University.

Bonner holds two degrees from UA: a bachelor of science in nutrition and a master of science in food and nutrition. She earned her Ph.D. in human nutrition from Ohio State University.

<p>The University of Alabama's president earns about $2 million less than Auburn University's president.</p><p>According to the Chronicle of Higher Education's annual ranking released Sunday, Auburn's Jay Gogue is the second-highest paid public college president in 2011-12, earning $2.5 million.</p><p>University of Alabama System spokeswoman Kellee Reinhart said Monday that UA President Judy Bonner's salary is $535,000, which would rank 69th on the Chronicle of Higher Education's survey.</p><p>Gogue, who became Auburn's 18th president on July 16, 2007, trailed only Graham Spanier, the former Penn State president who was forced out over his handling of the sex abuse scandal involving ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Spanier's $2.9 million pay includes $1.2 million in severance and $1.2 million in deferred compensation.</p><p>Third on the list is Ohio State University's Gordon Gee, who served as Vanderbilt University's chancellor from 2000-07. Gee earned $1.9 million.</p><p>The median compensation for public college presidents was $441,392, according to the survey. </p><p>Four college presidents surpassed the $1 million threshold in 2011-12: Spanier, Gogue, Gee and the now-retired George Mason University President Alan Merten, who made $1.87 million. </p><p>The public college data is based on a survey of institutions. It analyzed compensation of 212 presidents at 191 public research institutions. The leaders outnumbered institutions because the survey included those whose tenures began or ended during the fiscal year. </p><p>Three people held the title of UA president during the time frame used to compile the survey.</p><p>On March 5, 2012, then-UA president Robert E. Witt was chosen as chancellor of the University of Alabama System, which includes campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. </p><p>The next day, Bonner, UA's executive vice president and provost, was named as interim president, replacing Witt.</p><p>Bonner was not a candidate for the position on a permanent basis, saying at the time she had “enough balls in the air and didn't need to be a candidate at the same time.”</p><p>On July 11, Texas Tech University President Guy Bailey was named UA's 37th president. Bailey's annual base salary was $535,000.</p><p>Bailey started work at UA on Sept. 4, but announced his resignation on Oct. 31, citing concerns about his wife's health.</p><p>The Montgomery native, a UA graduate, is now a tenured linguistics professor at UA and continues to earn the base annual salary he did as president, $535,000, while being classified as on “developmental leave.” Last week, Bailey lost out on the New Mexico State University president's job. He told regents there that his wife's health had improved enough for him to seek a job leading a university.</p><p>On Nov. 1, 2012, UA trustees turned to Bonner, making her the first woman to hold the post on a permanent basis at the Capstone.</p><p>“It's exciting to be named president of this great university, and I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” she said at the time.</p><p>Bonner has held a variety of titles during her more than 30 years at UA. She had been provost and executive vice president since 2006. She was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2003. She has also served as dean of the College of Human Environmental Studies, special assistant to the president, assistant academic vice president and head of the department of human nutrition and hospitality management.</p><p> She has also held faculty positions at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Ohio State University. </p><p>Bonner holds two degrees from UA: a bachelor of science in nutrition and a master of science in food and nutrition. She earned her Ph.D. in human nutrition from Ohio State University.</p><p>Material from the Associated Press was included in this report.</p>